OSM Chapter 40: Low-key

Translator: Abo Dammen

Compared to the grandiose visit to the Pingsha drama set, Li Yuze was much more low-key when visiting He Zhiqiu this time, coming in the quiet of the night, sneaking in without drawing attention.

After all, given He Zhiqiu’s current situation, it wasn’t ideal for any news about him and Li Yuze to be exposed.

He had originally been an entirely clean slate.

Through his own efforts, he worked his way up from being a background actor to becoming the male lead in a dual-male lead role. Every character had been earned through his talent and multiple auditions.

If the media were to get hold of any story linking him to Li Yuze at this point, all his hard work of the past year would have been for nothing.

Netizens wouldn’t care about his past struggles, the long hours spent analyzing scripts, or how he was rejected in countless auditions. They would only focus on Li Yuze. If there was any connection to him now, they would surely think that all of He Zhiqiu’s achievements were thanks to the halo of Li Yuze.

The rumors about him “bringing capital into the set,” or being the married partner of a top celebrity in the entertainment industry, were not inherently derogatory, as they indicated a certain status. However, it was undeniable that some people saw such individuals as simply born with good fortune, symbols of those who lacked real ability.

Li Yuze had been in the industry for too long. He knew that such baseless accusations could easily ruin He Zhiqiu, potentially making him unable to recover for the rest of his life.

He didn’t want to let those people win so easily, at least not in the short term.

That’s why he came quietly.

However, Li Yuze’s fame was so large that no matter how he tried to hide, news of his presence at the film city where He Zhiqiu was working quickly spread and went viral the next day.

But the paparazzi had only managed to capture footage of Li Yuze entering the hotel’s main entrance. They had no idea what happened after that.

The online discussions were full of speculation about his purpose.

In the end, the conclusion was clear.

A set visit.

There was no way he would be staying at the hotel just for its accommodation options at such a late hour.

One commenter wrote: “Damn! I really want to know who he’s visiting!”

Another said: “It must be his wife! But the film city is so big, with dozens of sets filming, and hundreds of actors! How can we guess? And last time he deleted that post, he called himself a ‘small actor’? Does that mean someone who’s not well-known?”

Yet another commenter added: “But not necessarily, right? In the entertainment industry, besides older veteran artists and super top-tier stars, he can easily call anyone a ‘small actor,’ right?”

And someone else chimed in: “That ‘small actor’ sounds so intriguing. I just want to see a picture of Li Yuze’s wife!”

One commenter teasingly wrote: “Don’t you think you’re broadening the target too much?”

Another fan jokingly said: “Could it be my dear Yoyo? She’s been filming over there recently and worked with Li Yuze. I’ve always thought they make such a good pair!”

A cautionary reply followed: “Don’t jump to conclusions, wait until it’s exposed and you’re the one with egg on your face.”

The debate continued with theories about which project Li Yuze might have been visiting. Some even speculated he could be in Qing Shanlu, though that group was known to be filming with the actor Wu Lei as the male lead. Others found it hard to believe that He Zhiqiu, who was barely known, would be a part of such a high-profile show.

Despite all the speculation, the mystery surrounding Li Yuze’s wife remained unresolved. The entertainment industry, while not too large, offered enough space for Li Yuze to keep someone hidden if he wanted to.

The most frustrating thing, however, wasn’t this.

Ever since Li Yuze’s “deleting” incident, fan groups began to stir. Before, they hadn’t dared to openly speculate because they assumed Li Yuze’s wife was an outsider. But now that he had pointed in a certain direction, the “small actor” was an open mystery.

As long as Li Yuze didn’t clarify, anyone could be the person.

After all, CP fans had their own way of thinking—if their pairing worked out, everyone would be happy.

While the official fans were annoyed, they had no choice but to wait for an official announcement.

Despite the online buzz, life in the real world remained calm as usual.

That afternoon, He Zhiqiu finished filming. He had been with the crew for three months and had met Li Yuze three times during that period. Though their meetings were brief, their bond had grown stronger. He had arranged to meet Zhou Pu in A City, so he hurried off to the airport with his luggage.

Xu Sui asked him to return to the company first, saying there were work matters to discuss.

He Zhiqiu had no choice but to call Li Yuze and let him know he would be late.

Little did he know, Xu Sui had more new work plans to discuss. By the time He Zhiqiu finished at the company and returned home, it was already past ten at night.

Li Yuze was still awake, lounging on the sofa playing video games. When he saw He Zhiqiu come in, he tossed the game console aside and stood up, saying, “You’re back so late?”

He Zhiqiu nodded, just as he finished changing his shoes. He saw Li Yuze walking over, and they embraced briefly.

For them, hugging had become a natural form of physical contact. Li Yuze ruffled his hair and asked, “Are you tired?”

He Zhiqiu leaned on his shoulder for a moment before lifting his head and asking, “Have you eaten?”

Li Yuze replied he hadn’t, but turned to the unopened takeout on the table and said, “But I’ve already prepared it.”

He Zhiqiu chuckled, then changed into more comfortable clothes and joined him at the dining table.

They hadn’t shared a meal like this in a while, and the atmosphere felt warm.

Li Yuze asked He Zhiqiu if he planned to rest for a few days, and He Zhiqiu paused, hesitated, and finally said, “I… probably can’t rest.”

Li Yuze, initially happy, suddenly looked concerned. “Why?”

He Zhiqiu explained, “Xu Sui helped me take on a new job. Tomorrow, I need to go to the company to familiarize myself with the show’s process, and the day after, I have to meet with the production team. So… probably…”

“A show?” Li Yuze asked. “What show?”

He Zhiqiu replied, “It’s some slow-paced variety show. Xu Sui helped me secure a few episodes.”

Xu Sui wasn’t trying to get He Zhiqiu to change careers, but his exposure was too low. After two very different roles, he needed a break. Moreover, those two shows hadn’t aired yet, and without the hype, good projects wouldn’t come his way. So, Xu Sui found him a variety show that aired monthly to increase his visibility, so when his shows finally aired, people would recognize him.

And by then, his popularity would be higher, and better scripts and opportunities would come his way.

Xu Sui’s plan made sense—it was a reasonable career path for a newcomer.

Li Yuze didn’t want to interfere with He Zhiqiu’s work, but he hadn’t expected Xu Sui to be so harsh. Did he really have to leave He Zhiqiu no personal space at all?

Didn’t he know that married life requires a balance?

Li Yuze silently fumed but kept his face neutral.

They talked for a bit more, and after He Zhiqiu finished dinner and went upstairs to wash up, Li Yuze called Chen Qiong, getting straight to the point, “Are there any variety shows looking for me?”

Chen Qiong had just finished a meeting and was surprised to receive the call. After a moment, she replied, “Yes.”

Li Yuze asked, “Which ones?”

Chen Qiong responded, “There are quite a few, but I’ve turned them down for you.”

Li Yuze, coldly, said, “Why turn them down? Don’t they make money?”

Chen Qiong, seeming to sip some water, said, “They do.”

Li Yuze replied, “Then why turn them down? Are you out of your mind?”

There was a brief silence on the other end, followed by the sound of something breaking. Chen Qiong yelled, “You’re the one who’s crazy! If you didn’t complain about this job and that one, would I have turned these down? Let me tell you, Li Yuze, whether you take a job has been up to you! Don’t blame me!”